The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency issued instructions for channel use

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) has issued instructions for channel use.

This document was issued on 31 May 2023 and is effective from 5 June 2023.

The instructions in this document specify Traficom’s instructions 515771/03.04.01.01/2021 Principles and application of channel depths in Finland, which instruct vessels to do detailed motion allowance calculations under certain circumstances to estimate the motion allowance needed by the vessel in order to ensure safe channel use.

These instructions also provide more detailed guidelines on route planning in the channel area and guidance on the role of the vessel traffic service (VTS), when VTS is the authority monitoring and controlling vessel traffic in the VTS area in the aforementioned situations.

These instructions specify the content of the route plan required in different situations as well as the view of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom (hereinafter ‘Traficom’) as a regulating authority regarding the oversight measures to be taken by the vessel traffic service and pilotage services in order to ensure safe and efficient channel use.

These instructions shall apply to port calls in which a vessel is obliged to participate in vessel traffic service under the Vessel Traffic Service Act.

These instructions specify the current instructions and shall enter into force as a recommendation without a separate transition period.

The purpose of these instructions is to establish a uniform procedure for channel use and prepare for new gross under-keel clearance management methods at the national level.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):

Notice of channel use